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Original poster

Boss wants to change my hours from fixed Nights to variable Days inc w/e.

41 replies

SarahJG123 · 27/01/2016 13:24

Since I came back off maternity leave with my youngest 12 years ago I have worked Monday and Tuesday nights (24 hrs/wk). This is mainly so I can be at home to collect my children from school, as we do not have any childminders in our area. In emergencies we ask a neighbour if she can collect them, but often she doesn't have room in the car for 2 children. I cannot let the children cross the busy dual carriageway themselves as there have been several accidents over the years and 3 deaths on this stretch of road. My husband works long hours and would have to leave work at lunchtime in order to get home in time to collect the boys. Obviously not possible. I am in my 50's and have worked for this NHS employer since 1988, my current job started in 2000. We are a small team and no-one else wants to do my nights as they are the busiest of the week, if I don't do them then someone else has to. There are 4 of us over 3 hospital sites who are in the same boat. I have said I am happy to rotate across sites to cover A/L or sickness, but cannot work w/e or days. Alternate w/e I car for my elderly Mother with dementia who lives 180 miles away. My boss has threatened that if I do not agree to do days then she will not revalidate me and that I am not a team player if I don't change. After 12 years this would be so disruptive and working day and night shifts is more harmful to health than just nights. I really don't want to be forced to leave my job, but if she insists on this change then I will have no choice as my kids have to come first.
Can anyone help and tell me what to do next, she has launched a formal consultation, and I don't know where I stand?
Thanks

OP posts:

CountryLovingGirl · 29/01/2016 10:24

This is happening across the NHS these days.
You can put a flexible working request in but it sounds as if you will be refused. You could speak to your union rep (if you are in a union).
What time would your husband be able to get home in the evenings? Would a childminder be no good?

GRW · 29/01/2016 15:27

I am not sure if NHS employers can insist you change after set shifts for so many years. As a nurse on a ward it is usual for everyone to take their fair share of weekend shifts. If your boys are at secondary school can they look after themselves after school until one parent gets home? I can appreciate your concerns about the road, but if it is near a school I would expect there to be safe access to bus stops.

HaveUpsetHer · 30/01/2016 17:36

OP already said there are not childminders

HaveUpsetHer · 30/01/2016 17:38

Taxi or bus home for the children. DH asks for flexi hours from his work/ work from home on those days.

OP - look into your rights as having children under 18yrs and a caring role to other dependants.

Floralnomad · 30/01/2016 17:43

This is a very common problem in the NHS , you can put in a request to HR to have a set working pattern ( in our trust) but there is no guarantee that would be accepted , particularly as your children are secondary age . Have you asked your manager if she will let you stay on nights if you are more flexible about the nights you work ? Most of the wards in our trust did away with set nights about 15 years ago . Failing all that you could always just do bank / agency work .

CountryLovingGirl · 30/01/2016 19:57

I very much doubt that your NHS employer would give you flexible working now that your children are secondary age - especially with the day shifts. Would this be 8am-4pm shifts or 9-5pm shifts? Is there an after school club they could use?
Are there any other part timers who could dovetail your hours?

yorkshapudding · 30/01/2016 21:44

It's a tricky one. I think it's very unusual to have set night shifts these days and even more unusual to be in an inpatient environment and not have to do your share of weekends. I know it seems unfair because you've had a longstanding arrangement that works well for you but I think you'd struggle to find another job in an inpatient environment with the hours you're used to.

As a compromise, could you ask to remain on permanent nights but agree to be flexible with the nights you work? If the reason for your current set up is needing to pick the kids up from school why can't you do weekend nights? I know it would be an adjustment after years of having all your weekends free but if you enjoy your job then it might be preferable to leaving.

HaveUpsetHer · 31/01/2016 06:45

I am guessing that OP doesn't want to work weekends because she is a carer for her mum every other one. If she works the other weekend then they would have no family time.

FishWithABicycle · 31/01/2016 07:58

You've had an excellent family-friendly option while your children are young but now they are all at least secondary school age it's reasonable for you to move back to being in the same position as everyone else. A 12 year old is old enough to not need a parent to keep them safe at all times. The person doing the rota must surely also be dealing with flexible working requests from colleagues with much younger children which are more difficult to accommodate because of the inflexibility of your fixed shifts that you no longer truly need. without young children there is no justification for you to be a special case any more.

fastdaytears · 31/01/2016 08:10

working day and night shifts is more harmful to health than just nights

Isn't that what your colleagues are doing though?

I can't imagine how you could do the rota for a ward with people working fixed shifts and not covering other times. Like you suggested, you could be used for cover I suppose but they don't seem keen on that.

Your children should be able to get home safely on their own though. You can't keep picking them up when they're teenagers and also with things with your mum you could be called away. Can you speak to the school transport people about re-siting the bus stop?

fastdaytears · 31/01/2016 08:11

Oh wow just seen that the 12 year old is your youngest not your oldest.

fastdaytears · 31/01/2016 18:21

OP why are you PMing me? I'm sorry that we don't agree and the road does sound dreadful but we can talk about it on the thread if you really want to. Or not, the thread has died a bit and it really is for you to decide whether to keep working or not.

Original poster

SarahJG123 · 31/01/2016 18:22

My boss had to pay OT to cover my AL as only clinical staff can do Nights now - I am clinical! If I don't do the shift then the other clinical staff are going to have to do more nights - not fair on them - they don't want the nights, they are going to have to do more anyway as there aren't enough clinical in the team to cover - OT is needed to cover outstanding shift - I cannot understand the need for me to do NONE clinical days!!!

OP posts:

Roygrace · 31/01/2016 18:25

Yabu you dont need family friendly hours now your kids are secondary school.

Monday Nd Tuesday nights would be cushy for everyone. Your lucky you have had it so long

Shutthatdoor · 31/01/2016 18:30

Yabu you dont need family friendly hours now your kids are secondary school.

^ this. Your youngest is 12

PersephonePitstop · 31/01/2016 18:30

Why are the day shifts non-clinical?

fastdaytears · 31/01/2016 18:34

OP you've sent me 4 PMs now which I'm not sure are for me or not. Is something going wrong with the app? Please don't PM me (if you meant to!).

PatheticNurse · 31/01/2016 18:38

OP has inboxed me too.

I replied: I think you should apply for flexible working and on the form you can add evidence to strengthen your case.

Have they said the actual reason that they want you to rotate days and nights? If so you will need to find a counter argument for that, or a "compromise" if necessary eg they say that you are de-skilling by only doing nights. Therefore you will compromise that for one week every 3, 6 mths during a school holiday week, then you will do a week of days. Bet you never end up doing them!

If you do end up having to rotate then you might find your colleagues are extremely keen to swap those night shifts with you so you end up with them anyway.

Document and keep as much correspondence in email as this will act as evidence should your manager start with the bullying tactics.

They also have to give a 90 day consolation to change your hours which will take you to the summer already.

ruddynorah · 31/01/2016 18:38

Your children are secondary school age. They need to learn to cross the road and get themselves home.

fastdaytears · 31/01/2016 18:39

Oh ok I thought it might be technical issues!

That seems like good advice.

Floralnomad · 31/01/2016 18:41

OP , I also don't know why you pm'd me , I never said anything about getting your children taxis , if you want to make points to people make them on the thread .

SauvignonBlanche · 31/01/2016 19:19

My Trust has stopped nurses doing only Nights. I had to take 2 Staff Nurses off permanent nights, it didn't going down well but they both had 'Night Nurseitis' and it needed to happen.

I didn't make them do many day shifts, just enough to keep to keep them in touch.

Roygrace · 31/01/2016 19:46

Oh god yeah night nurseitis.

fastdaytears · 31/01/2016 19:49

Sounds painful!

Original poster

SarahJG123 · 31/01/2016 20:26

Sorry for PM people - I am not sure what is going on with the app. Didn't mean to. Apologies.

OP posts:

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